That’s a tough one. Sometimes I’m inspired from my dreams – literal dreams, when I’m sleeping. “The Contest” came from a dream. Sometimes I’ll have a random thought in the shower that turns into a story and sometimes it’s something I hear in passing. I thought of Can’t You See while discussing insurance adjusters with a friend. I’m pretty random. But my boys are my biggest inspiration. I want to show them that no matter how old you are it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

2.The Fabulist is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It’s literally reality television in a book, only better. For someone like me, (a reality television addict) this idea should have been something that was in the forefront of my mind but it wasn’t… what made you think of it?

I was actually trying to help a fellow author come up with a title for her book that had something to do with liars. When I’m brainstorming, I usually end up at an online thesaurus to search words. Every once in a while, I’ll draw a creative thought from a synonym or antonym. In this case, the word Fabulist came up as a synonym for liar. I’d never seen the word before so I searched the meaning of it. I loved the idea of a book called “The Fabulist” because it sounded so original. She didn’t like it and went a different direction and I couldn’t get the word out of my head. That’s what got me started. I wrote Can’t You See while I was still toying with the idea. The reality TV probably came to mind from the definition – a storyteller. I was trying to think of something people could relate to and that’s where the reality TV came from. It’s everywhere these days. The idea of trying to put reality TV into book form excited me. I write best when I’m excited. That’s usually why I write my books so fast – before the inspiration is gone.

3.In The Fabulist we follow Sam along on her journey to potentially win a reality television competition to work for The Fabulist. She has no idea who that is, or what the job entails, only that a fabulist is in essence a liar. How did you come up with what the competition would be for?

I wanted to do a different spin on lying. I loved the storyteller aspect of it. I thought of all the reality TV I’d seen and I knew right away I didn’t want it to be about looking for love. Sam’s character traits were clear to me before I started writing and I knew who she was. I could see her. I could hear her in my head. She was strong willed and fearless. There was no way she’d ever apply for a show to find a man. She didn’t need a man to make her whole. A job was the only way she might try out so I decided to make her jobless. The story fell into place from there. The challenges were another story altogether. I rarely plan in advance for a book. I mostly just let the story flow. When it came time for the first challenge, I realized it would be more difficult than I thought to come up with multiple increasingly difficult challenges for lying. I spent a lot of time doing research and staring blankly at my screen. LOL

4.So, um… heard any good lies lately?

Is there such a thing as a good lie? The book was dedicated to people who lie for the right reasons. I suppose everyone lies for one reason or another. Not all lies are meant to do harm. I think it’s why people can relate. Everyone has lied about something. Have I heard a good lie? Let’s just say I have teenage boys. I hear, “Yes, my homework is done,” daily. Rarely do I believe it. They need to work on their delivery. I’ll never share my notes!

5.For me music plays a big role in my life (and my books). Do you have a favorite band/artist that you listen to while writing? Or do you require complete silence?

Music plays a huge role in my writing, but not how you might think. I draw inspiration from the way certain music makes me feel. But to answer your question, I actually write in complete silence, unless there is music playing in my scene. If there’s music in the story then I’ll listen to a song over and over to make sure I get the mood and flow correct. When I write, it’s like I’m watching a movie in my head. If my characters are listening to music then so am I. If they aren’t then I’m not either. I don’t have a particular band I listen to. For me it’s about emotion. I listen to a little bit of everything.

6.What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? Best compliment?

I think some of the toughest criticism has come in the form of reviews. At first, it was hard to see anything positive in them, but I’ve learned to take them as opportunities to improve myself. There have been so many best compliments I don’t know how to narrow it down to just one. I can say that one of the best was hearing that my story helped someone and made a difference in their life. To me that is the greatest gift you can get as an author.

7. Sometimes I like to imagine that I’m my favorite book character, (don’t judge). If you could be any character for one day, who would you be? Why?

Me, judge? Never! Who hasn’t wanted to be a character from a book? I think it’s one of the reasons I write. It’s therapy. I can live a thousand lives. Hmm… Who would I want to be? Bella from Twilight because – Edward! I also wouldn’t mind being Lake from Slammed, Ana from Fifty Shades, Ellie from Defining Moments, or even Everly from Enough. Why? Because they were all so strong. I love strong female characters that overcome obstacles and odds. They’re who I want to be when I grow up. If I grow up!

You may have seen her around for the last few days. She’s stunning. Hold on, lemme share her cover, so y’all can drool with me.

I know, I know. It’s perfection, right? What makes it even more so is, the words written on the pages. Jupiter is quirky. She’s not afraid to speak her mind and well, she likes being happy. If she wants to do something, she pretty much does it. Simply put… Jupiter rocks my socks.

Jupiter Corey’s family isn’t conventional. When she finds herself accepted to a university on the other side of the country, she knows they’ll never approve. Or help her get there. No help with applying for grants, no help with bus fare, airline tickets, nothing. One day her world literally collides with that of Ezra Brandon. She was daydreaming about him and didn’t hear the buzzer letting her know class was dismissed. She ran smack dab into Ezra.

After convincing Ezra to drive her to college when the summer ends, they leave on the trip of a lifetime. Add in one oddly weird and charming cousin (Here’s looking at you, Kai!) and we have shenanigan’s galore. The things that happen along the way could only happen to someone as quirky and charming as Jupiter.

Without giving more away, let me say this… I adored this book. It was just what I needed to get through this chilly fall day.

Ezra: Hello, Jupiter.
Jupiter: Hello, idiot.
Ezra: That wasn’t very nice.
Jupiter: Consider it a preemptive strike.
Ezra: I won’t do anything mean, Jup. Promise.
Jupiter: I don’t believe you.
Ezra: You’re so untrusting.
Jupiter: Color me whatever you want. You’re a fickle boy.
Ezra: First question. How well do you know your planet?
Jupiter: *glowers* Not well at all. I avoided the subject, for obvious reasons.
Ezra: Did you know that Jupiter is a gas giant?
Jupiter: *Stands up and points at Ezra* I knew it! I knew it! Fisher, he’s being mean! Tell him to stop.
Ezra: *Laughs*
Fisher: Ezra, would you please refrain from astronomy themed humor?
Ezra: Ugh! You’re no fun, Fisher. Fine, Jupiter, you want to be a stick in the mud, be a stick in the mud.
Jupiter: Just ask your questions, Ezra.
Ezra: Fine.
Jupiter: Fine.
Ezra: *takes a deep breath* Did you know that Jupiter is the heaviest?
Jupiter: *Jumps forward. Wraps hands around Ezra’s neck.*
Ezra: *garbled* Fisher! Fisher!
Fisher: *Files nails* You play with fire, boy.
Ezra: *garbled* Fisher! Help!
Fisher: *puts down nail file. Sighs.* Jupiter, please refrain from suffocating Ezra.
Jupiter: *Lets Ezra go. Straightens clothing. Sits down.*
Ezra: *Rubs at neck. Smiles* You’re so hot when you get mad.
Jupiter: *Rolls her eyes but fights a smile.* You’re an idiot.
Ezra: I know this. Now kiss me.
Jupiter: No.
Ezra: Come on, give me a kiss, Jupiter.
Jupiter: *Laughs* No way, Jose.
Ezra: *Gets on knees.* Please, Jupiter!
Jupiter: I have you right where I want you. Dance for me, puppet.
Ezra: What does a guy have to do to get a kiss from you?
Jupiter: Tell me something nice and I might consider it.
Ezra: Does it help that I only play like that because I’m super in to you?
Jupiter: *Leans imperceptibly forward* Maybe.
Ezra: Will it also help to know that I think about you all the time?
Jupiter: *Leans in a bit further* Possibly.
Ezra: And what if I told you that I think you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met?
Jupiter: *Leans a mere few inches away from Ezra* It doesn’t stink.
Ezra: Okay, how about if I tell you how much I love to talk with you, and laugh with you, and play around. And that I think you’re the most fun I’ve ever had. And I hate the fact that I can’t be with you every single second of every single day.
Jupiter: Go on.
Ezra: You’re my best friend, Jupiter.
Jupiter: Bingo. That’s the one.
Ezra: *Smiles* I’m gonna tackle you to the ground now, Jup.
Jupiter: *Smiles back*